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The Story of an Hour: Gender Roles in Kate Chopin's Novel

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Published: Jan 28, 2021

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Works Cited

• Chopin, K. (1894). The Story of an Hour. Vogue, 23(28), 1-2. (Original publication of the short story)
• Dubey, M. (2016). Gender Roles in Kate Chopin's Works. Apeejay Journal of Management and Technology, 11(2), 135-140.
• Fenway, M. (2008). Historical Context of "The Story of an Hour." In R. Lecker (Ed.), Literary Contexts in Short Stories: Kate Chopin's "The Story of an Hour" (pp. 15-19). Detroit: Gale.
• Fernandes, N. (2012). The Awakening: A Solitary Soul Reflecting Societal Norms. Journal of English Language and Literature, 1(2), 135-148.
• Johnson, C. (2009). The Limits of Sympathy: The Married Woman and Narrator in "The Story of an Hour." The Southern Literary Journal, 41(2), 59-75.
• Kendall, M. (2015). Awakening Feminism: Woman's Rights in "The Story of an Hour." Victorian Review, 41(2), 43-51.
• Koloski, B. (2013). Kate Chopin: A Study of the Short Fiction. Twayne Publishers.
• Papke, M. (2009). Kate Chopin's Short Fiction. In E. Showalter (Ed.), The Cambridge Companion to Kate Chopin (pp. 90-103). Cambridge University Press.
• Steiner, W. (2010). Kate Chopin: A Literary Life. Macmillan International Higher Education.
• Toth, E. (1999). Unveiling Kate Chopin. University Press of Mississippi.

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“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin: A Critical Analysis

“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin, first published in 1894 in the St. Louis Life magazine, was later included in the 1895 collection “Vojageur” and in the 1895 edition of “Bayou Folk”.

Introduction: “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin

“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin, first published in 1894 in the St. Louis Life magazine, was later included in the 1895 collection “Vojageur” and in the 1895 edition of “Bayou Folk”. This iconic short story features a unique narrative structure, where the protagonist, Louise Mallard, experiences a rollercoaster of emotions upon learning of her husband’s death in a railroad accident. The story showcases Chopin’s mastery of exploring themes of freedom, marriage, and the human psyche, all within a concise and gripping narrative that has captivated readers for over a century. Some key features of the story include its use of irony, symbolism, and a focus on the inner experiences of the protagonist, making it a landmark of American literary modernism.

Main Events in “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin

Table of Contents

• Mrs. Mallard Learns of Her Husband’s Death : Mrs. Mallard, afflicted with a heart condition, is gently informed of her husband’s death in a train accident by her sister Josephine and their friend Richards.
• Initial Grief and Solitude : Mrs. Mallard weeps in her sister’s arms and then withdraws to her room alone, overwhelmed by grief.
• Contemplation by the Window : Sitting alone in her room, Mrs. Mallard gazes out the window, observing signs of new life and feeling a sense of physical and emotional exhaustion.
• A Subtle Awakening : Mrs. Mallard begins to feel a subtle and elusive sense of freedom creeping over her, whispering “free, free, free!” as she starts to recognize a new sensation within herself.
• Embracing Freedom : As Mrs. Mallard acknowledges the prospect of freedom from her husband’s will and societal expectations, she feels a rush of joy and welcomes the years ahead for herself.
• Recognition of Self-Assertion : Mrs. Mallard reflects on the strength of her own desires for autonomy and self-assertion, realizing that it surpasses the complexities of love and relationships.
• Resistance and Revelation : Despite her sister’s pleas, Mrs. Mallard resists leaving her newfound sense of liberation, reveling in the elixir of life streaming through her open window.
• Vision of the Future : Mrs. Mallard’s imagination runs wild with possibilities for her future, filled with dreams of spring and summer days that will be entirely her own.
• Triumphant Reveal : Mrs. Mallard emerges from her room, exuding a feverish triumph, and descends the stairs with her sister, unaware of what awaits her.
• Shocking Revelation and Tragic End : The story takes a dramatic turn as Mrs. Mallard’s husband, Brently Mallard, returns home unharmed, unaware of the news of his death. The shock of his appearance leads to Mrs. Mallard’s sudden death, attributed by doctors to “the joy that kills.”

Literary Devices in “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin

Characterization in “the story of an hour” by kate chopin.

• Afflicted with a heart condition, which influences her physical and emotional state throughout the story.
• Initially portrayed as experiencing grief and sorrow over her husband’s death but undergoes a transformation as she contemplates the prospect of freedom.
• Symbolizes themes of repression, liberation, and the complexities of marriage and societal expectations.
• Acts as a supportive figure to Mrs. Mallard, informing her of her husband’s death and attempting to comfort her.
• Represents familial bonds and the role of women in supporting each other in times of crisis.
• Present when the news of Brently Mallard’s death is revealed to Mrs. Mallard.
• His actions highlight the societal norms of male friendship and the expectation of delivering difficult news to women.
• Appears briefly at the end of the story, shocking Mrs. Mallard and ultimately leading to her death.
• Serves as a catalyst for Mrs. Mallard’s emotional journey and the revelation of her desire for freedom.
• Represents the constraints of traditional marriage and the loss of individual identity within such relationships.

Major Themes in “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin

• Freedom and Liberation : The story explores the theme of freedom through Mrs. Mallard’s reaction to her husband’s death. Initially grieving, she experiences a profound sense of liberation and anticipates a future free from the constraints of marriage and societal expectations.
• Repression and Identity : Mrs. Mallard’s emotional journey highlights the repression of her true feelings within her marriage and society. Her brief moment of freedom allows her to glimpse her own desires and identity apart from her role as a wife.
• Irony and Unexpected Twists : Chopin employs irony and unexpected twists to challenge conventional narrative expectations. The revelation of Brently Mallard’s survival and Mrs. Mallard’s subsequent death subverts the reader’s assumptions and underscores the complexities of human emotion and experience.
• Death and Joy : The story juxtaposes themes of death and joy, suggesting that liberation and self-realization can emerge from unexpected or even tragic circumstances. Mrs. Mallard’s death, attributed to “the joy that kills,” underscores the paradoxical nature of human emotions and the complexities of inner lives.

Writing Style in “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin

• Descriptive Imagery : Chopin employs vivid and sensory language to create imagery that immerses the reader in the setting and emotions of the story. Descriptions of the springtime scene outside Mrs. Mallard’s window, such as “aquiver with the new spring life,” evoke a sense of renewal and vitality.
• Stream-of-Consciousness : The story delves into Mrs. Mallard’s thoughts and feelings, often in a stream-of-consciousness style. This technique allows readers to experience her internal turmoil and the rapid shifts in her emotions as she grapples with the news of her husband’s death and the prospect of freedom.
• Symbolism : Chopin utilizes symbolism to convey deeper themes and meanings throughout the narrative. For example, the open window symbolizes the possibility of escape and liberation, while Mrs. Mallard’s physical and emotional confinement within her home reflects the constraints of her marriage and societal expectations.
• Irony and Subtext : The story is marked by irony and subtle subtext, particularly in its exploration of Mrs. Mallard’s reaction to her husband’s death. While her initial response appears to be one of grief, it gradually becomes clear that she is experiencing a sense of liberation and joy at the prospect of newfound freedom.
• Economy of Language : Chopin’s writing in “The Story of an Hour” is characterized by its economy of language, with each word carefully chosen to maximize impact. This concise style contributes to the story’s intensity and emotional resonance, allowing readers to experience the protagonist’s inner journey with clarity and immediacy.

Literary Theories and Interpretation of “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin

Feminist Theory :

• Interpretation: Louise’s struggle for autonomy and independence
• Example: “There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself.”
• Explanation: Louise’s desire for self-assertion and freedom from patriarchal oppression is a central theme. She rejects the societal expectations of women and seeks to live for herself, symbolizing her autonomy and independence.

Psychoanalytic Theory:

• Interpretation: Louise’s repressed emotions and inner conflict
• Example: “She was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching to possess her, and she was striving to beat it back with her will—”
• Explanation: Louise’s inner turmoil and emotional struggle with her husband’s death reveal her repressed desires and inner conflict. Her feelings of freedom and joy are juxtaposed with her guilt and grief, highlighting her complex psyche.

Symbolic Theory:

• Interpretation: Symbols of freedom and oppression
• Example: “The open window and blue sky”
• Explanation: The open window and blue sky symbolize freedom, hope, and new life, while the closed door and darkness symbolize oppression and confinement. The window and sky represent Louise’s desire for escape and freedom, while the door and darkness represent her trapped and oppressive life.

Topics, Questions, and Thesis Statements about “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin

Short questions/answers about/on “the story of an hour” by kate chopin.

• What is the significance of the title “The Story of an Hour” and how does it relate to the story’s themes? The title “The Story of an Hour” refers to the brief period of time during which the protagonist, Louise Mallard, experiences a sense of freedom and liberation after hearing of her husband’s death. This hour represents a turning point in her life, as she momentarily breaks free from the societal expectations and constraints that have defined her marriage. The title highlights the story’s exploration of freedom, individuality, and the oppressive nature of societal norms.
• How does Kate Chopin use symbolism in “The Story of an Hour” to convey the protagonist’s emotional journey and the themes of the story? Kate Chopin employs symbolism throughout the story to convey Louise’s emotional journey and the themes of freedom, individuality, and oppression. The open window, for instance, symbolizes Louise’s newfound freedom and her desire to break free from the constraints of her marriage. The “blue and far” sky represents the limitless possibilities and opportunities that lie ahead. The “new spring of life” and the “delicious breath of rain” symbolize renewal and rejuvenation, reflecting Louise’s growing sense of hope and liberation.
• What role does irony play in “The Story of an Hour,” and how does it contribute to the story’s themes and character development? Irony plays a significant role in “The Story of an Hour,” as it underscores the contradictions and tensions that exist between societal expectations and individual desires. The story’s use of dramatic irony, where the reader is aware of Louise’s inner thoughts and feelings, while the other characters are not, highlights the disconnect between her public and private selves. The situational irony, where Louise’s husband returns alive, subverts the reader’s expectations and underscores the oppressive nature of societal norms, which deny women their individuality and freedom.
• How does “The Story of an Hour” reflect the social and cultural context in which it was written, and what commentary does it offer on the status of women during this time period? “The Story of an Hour” reflects the social and cultural context of the late 19th century, a time when women’s rights and freedoms were severely limited. The story critiques the patriarchal society and the institution of marriage, which often trapped women in loveless and oppressive relationships. Through Louise’s character, Chopin highlights the suffocating nature of societal expectations and the longing for individuality and freedom that many women experienced during this time period. The story’s exploration of these themes offers a commentary on the status of women and the need for greater autonomy and self-expression.

Literary Works Similar to “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin

• “ The Yellow Wallpaper ” by Charlotte Perkins Gilman : This story explores themes of female oppression and mental health as a woman confined to a room by her husband begins to unravel psychologically.
• “ A Jury of Her Peers ” by Susan Glaspell : Based on Glaspell’s play “Trifles,” this story delves into gender roles and justice as women uncover crucial evidence while accompanying their husbands on a murder investigation.
• “The Awakening” by Kate Chopin : Another work by Chopin, this novella examines the constraints of marriage and societal expectations as a woman seeks independence and self-discovery in late 19th-century Louisiana.
• “ The Chrysanthemums ” by John Steinbeck : Set in the Salinas Valley during the Great Depression, this story follows a woman’s encounter with a traveling tinkerer, exploring themes of isolation, longing, and gender roles.
• “The Story of a Dead Man” by Ambrose Bierce : Bierce’s story, similar to “The Story of an Hour,” explores themes of freedom and liberation as a man seemingly returns from the dead, causing his widow to contemplate her newfound independence.

Suggested Readings about/on “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin

Books on kate chopin and “the story of an hour”:.

• Bonner, Thomas Jr. The Kate Chopin Companion . Greenwood, 1988.
• Ewell, Barbara C. Kate Chopin . Ungar, 1986.
• Papke, Mary E. Verging on the Abyss: The Social Fiction of Kate Chopin and Edith Wharton . Greenwood, 1990.
• Seyersted, Per. Kate Chopin: A Critical Biography . Louisiana State UP, 1969.
• Skaggs, Peggy. Kate Chopin . Twayne, 1985.

Articles on “The Story of an Hour”:

• Mitchell, Angelyn. “Feminine Double Consciousness in Kate Chopin’s ‘The Story of an Hour.'” CEAMagazine 5.1 (1992): 59-64.
• Miner, Madonne M. “Veiled Hints: An Affective Stylist’s Reading of Kate Chopin’s ‘Story of an Hour.'” Markham Review 11 (1982): 29-32.

Web Resource:

• The Kate Chopin International Society offers a wealth of information on Chopin and “The Story of an Hour,” including the full text of the story and critical essays: Kate Chopin International Society: https://www.katechopin.org/story-hour/

Representative Quotations from “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin

Related posts:.

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• “An Occurrence at Owl Creek Bridge” by Ambrose Bierce: Analysis
• “The Shawl” by Cynthia Ozick: Analysis
• “The Old Pond” by Matsuo Basho: Analysis

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A Flock of Feminists: “The Story of an Hour”

By casnider

Following the Civil War and the emancipation of slaves, American women were inspired to advocate for their own personal freedoms. Women’s organizations were founded to promote suffrage, employment opportunities, and property rights for women. However, others still argued that a woman’s place was in the home as a wife and mother. This division encouraged women to reevaluate their role in society and traditional marriage (Library of Congress para. 2). In her short story, “The Story of an Hour,” Kate Chopin employs a bird motif to criticize gender roles in the late nineteenth century and advocate for the feminist movement.

Chopin’s motif regarding birds illustrates character development for Mrs. Mallard. The most prominent reference is in her married name. A mallard is a type of bird, specifically a duck. For mallards, courting occurs during the winter. The females will build the nest on the ground, incubate the eggs, and care for the ducklings. This is representative of conventional gender roles because women have been expected to assume the lowly role of a housewife. While mallards are primarily monogamous, the males may force relations with other females. This supports the notion that Mrs. Mallard had no control in her marriage, in which her husband was dominant. After mating season, female mallards will shed feathers, entering a stage of flightless vulnerability for three to four weeks (Cornell Lab of Ornithology “Mallard”). This is a striking resemblance to Mrs. Mallard’s loss of freedom once she was married. However, mallards are actually extremely powerful fliers, which suggests that Mrs. Mallard may be able to return to a state of independence.

Upon receiving the news of her husband’s death, Mrs. Mallard mourns briefly, as expected, but her attention is quickly redirected to a window across the room. She watches nature thrive in the spring, a season of rebirth. This foreshadows a rejuvenating transformation for Mrs. Mallard; she is no longer trapped in the mallard’s winter. Chopin includes that “countless sparrows were twittering in the eaves” (Chopin para. 4). These sparrows represent a community of women who are supporting Mrs. Mallard’s strive for independence. They hang on the edge of the house, representing self-sufficient women who live on the edge of societal norms. Because they are in the eaves, Mrs. Mallard is unable to see them. However, she senses their presence through their “twittering.” Twittering describes bird sounds that are imitative in nature (Online Etymology Dictionary). These imitative calls suggest that there are women who have experienced the same marital struggles as Mrs. Mallard. Sparrows often displace native birds from their nests, just as these women encourage Mrs. Mallard to abandon her domestic life in the home and join their feminist flock (Cornell Lab of Ornithology “House Sparrow”).

Mrs. Mallard experiences a moment of self-actualization. This is described as a physical altercation with herself. Her body trembled as she underwent an internal conflict. Her desire for freedom battled her instinct to conform to traditional gender roles. Once she gave in to the idea of independence, she repeated, “free, free, free!” (Chopin para. 10). This repetition mirrors the mimicking of the sparrows. Like a bird being released from its cage, Mrs. Mallard finally feels freedom from the captivity of her marriage. She seizes control of her own life. Her “pulses beat fast” (Chopin para. 10). The word “beat” correlates to the motion of a bird’s wings. Mrs. Mallard is no longer a flightless duck, but a powerful sparrow. Moving forward, Mrs. Mallard will be addressed by her first name, Louise. This emphasizes her severance from married life. The name “Louise” is the feminine form of the name “Louis,” a name that is primarily associated with French royalty (Behind the Name “Louise” para. 1). Most prominently, King Louis XIV deemed himself the “Sun King” when he reigned at the peak of France’s power (Behind the Name “Louis” para. 1). Conclusively, this suggests that Louise has replaced the male figure in her life herself, assuming all authority.

After her radical transformation, Louise gains a “clear and exalted perception” from her newfound flying capabilities (Chopin para. 11). This is her self-realization, as she now recognizes opportunity to live a vastly different life. Louise anticipates years on her own, and she “spread her arms out to them in welcome” (Chopin para. 12). This imagery corresponds to a bird spreading its wings. It indicates that she has finally accepted her independence. She states that people will no longer “have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature” (Chopin para. 13). This is particularly powerful, because she explicitly states her abandonment of societal expectation. With the end of her marriage, she does not feel obligated to consider the opinion of others. The term “fellow-creature” is especially compelling, because it humbles all people to the same animalistic status. Chopin reinforces her reference to birds, but she also dismisses the patriarchal structure of society. If she is viewed as an equal, then the opinions of others have no authority over her aspirations.

Chopin’s striking irony is Louise’s sudden death after she contemplates a long, prosperous life as a widow. Louise descends the stairs of her home, which symbolically lowers her status in society once again. She finds that her husband has returned alive, stripping her newfound freedoms from her. Ultimately, this causes a physical and figurative death. Louise compares herself to the “goddess of Victory” (Chopin para. 19). In Greek mythology, the goddess of Victory is Nike. Nike represents victory over war, which is traditionally a man’s domain. This emphasizes the notion that Louise was able to defeat the restrictive gender roles. Like a mallard or sparrow, Nike is typically portrayed with wings (Britannica para. 2). Upon her husband’s absence, Louise was able to gain wings of independence, but they quickly dissipate with his return.

Chopin’s recurring motif of birds provides powerful imagery that details her experiences with conventional marriage. By comparing a wife to a mallard, she is commenting on the lack of freedoms for women. However, in the absence of her husband, Mrs. Mallard is able to recognize a community of women who have felt a similar conflict. This is Chopin’s support for the feminist movement in the late nineteenth century as they advocate for economic and personal liberties. With Louise’s inevitable death, her hope is somewhat dissipated. Chopin glances into a moment of redemption for women, but ultimately suggests that it may be impossible to truly escape the patriarchal structure of society. These concepts translate to modern-day society and the feminist movement. Women now have the fundamental right to vote, make economic decisions, and pursue any career they desire. They are increasingly pushing the boundaries of traditional gender roles. Most recently, Kamala Harris was elected the first female vice president of the United States. Regardless of political policy, representation is crucial. Madam Vice President inspires young girls to challenge gender norms. However, women still experience discrimination and many professions remain dominated by men. While progress has been made for gender equality, there is still work to be done.

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The Story of an Hour

Kate chopin, ask litcharts ai: the answer to your questions.

In the late 19th century, much of American society held to the deep-seated belief that women were inferior to and should remain dependent upon husbands and other male figures. On the whole, women were expected to accommodate their husbands by cooking, cleaning, and generally maintaining the household. Any employment available to them offered wages significantly less than what men earned, and women were expected to conduct their lives according to their husbands’ wishes. Most women had little or no financial or other independence, as they (and their finances) were essentially passed from their fathers to their husbands upon marriage. At the same time, the second half of the 19th century saw the rise of the first organized women’s rights movements, marked most notably by the Seneca Falls Convention of 1848. “The Story of An Hour” was published in 1884, only one year after the first U.S. state granted women the right to vote, but still almost three decades before women would get the federal right to vote through the 19th amendment in 1919.

Like much of Kate Chopin’s work, “The Story of an Hour” revolves around the idea of female independence and its obstacles. The story is especially concerned with examining how a nineteenth-century woman was expected to behave in highly emotional circumstances. Louise Mallard ’s heart condition renders her physically weak, further enforcing the time period’s prevailing sentiment that women should remain passive and unexcited. At the same time, one might argue that it is the diagnosis of the heart condition itself that enforces a kind of weakness on Louise based on the assumptions about women inherent in the diagnosis.

More particularly, though, through the sudden death of Louise ’s husband in an accident, the story portrays a woman on the cusp of true independence in the only way that was truly available to women at the time: through the death of a wealthy husband, leaving the woman with her own fortune and no need to remarry to maintain her station in life. And so, despite her real grief at her husband’s unexpected death, Louise feels intense joy at the exceedingly rare prospect being granted to her as a woman: the chance to be “free, free.”

And yet, the story also implies the way that society, and perhaps even the world itself, resists any woman having such freedom. It does so most obviously through its literal shock ending, in which Louise ’s husband turns out not to have been in the accident after all and walks through the front door, a revelation that stops Louise ’s heart. But the story also makes this implication more subtly, as when Louise ’s sister worries that Louise is making herself sick by remaining isolated in her room (though in truth Louise is reveling in her freedom). Both men and women of the society around Louise intervene in her life, ultimately proving that her freedom is impossible to hold.

Women in 19th-Century Society ThemeTracker

Women in 19th-Century Society Quotes in The Story of an Hour

She did not hear the story as many women have heard the same, with a paralyzed inability to accept its significance. She wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister’s arms.

It was not a glance of reflection, but rather indicated a suspension of intelligent thought. There was something coming to her and she was waiting for it, fearfully.

There would be no one to live for her during those coming years; she would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature. A kind intention or a cruel intention made the act seem no less a crime as she looked upon it in that brief moment of illumination.

What could love, the unsolved mystery, count for in face of this possession of self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being!

She arose at length and opened the door to her sister’s importunities. There was a feverish triumph in her eyes, and she carried herself unwittingly like a goddess of Victory. She clasped her sister’s waist, and together they descended the stairs.

Literary Theory and Criticism

Home › Literature › Analysis of Kate Chopin’s The Story of an Hour

Analysis of Kate Chopin’s The Story of an Hour

By NASRULLAH MAMBROL on July 28, 2021

Originally entitled “The Dream of an Hour” when it was first published in Vogue (December 1894), “The Story of an Hour” has since become one of Kate Chopin’s most frequently anthologized stories. Among her shortest and most daring works, “Story” examines issues of feminism, namely, a woman’s dissatisfaction in a conventional marriage and her desire for independence. It also features Chopin’s characteristic irony and ambiguity .

The story begins with Louise Mallard’s being told about her husband’s presumed death in a train accident. Louise initially weeps with wild abandon, then retires alone to her upstairs bedroom. As she sits facing the open window, observing the new spring life outside, she realizes with a “clear and exalted perception” that she is now free of her husband’s “powerful will bending hers” (353). She becomes delirious with the prospect that she can now live for herself and prays that her life may be long. Her newfound independence is short-lived, however. In a surprise ending, her husband walks through the front door, and Louise suffers a heart attack and dies. Her death may be considered a tragic defeat or a pyrrhic victory for a woman who would rather die than lose that “possession of self-assertion which she suddenly recognized as the strongest impulse of her being” (353). The doctors ironically attribute her death to the “joy that kills” (354).

BIBLIOGRAPHY Chopin, Kate. The Complete Works of Kate Chopin. Edited by Per Seyersted. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1969. Koloski, Bernard. Kate Chopin: A Study of the Short Fiction. New York: Twayne, 1996. Seyersted, Per. Kate Chopin: A Critical Biography. Baton Rouge: Louisiana State University Press, 1969. Toth, Emily. Kate Chopin. New York: Morrow, 1990

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“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin Literary Analysis: Plot, Themes, Characters, Setting, and Symbolism

Kate Chopin’s (1850-1904) short story “ The Story of an Hour” narrates events that happen within an hour. 

Louise Mallard is a young, calm, and frail woman who suffers from a heart disease. On this day, Louise learns from her sister Josephine and a family friend, Richards, that her husband, Brently Mallard, has died. She briefly weeps in Josephine’s arms and then heads to her room alone. 

While watching the street from her window, she feels an unknown feeling building up and when she gives in to this, Louise realizes that it is the joy of being free from her husband’s constant impositions on her life. The primary character then begins to envision an exciting future and imagines a life where she will live for herself. 

However, these feelings of joy and freedom are short-lived. As Louise walks down the stairs from her room, Brently walks into the house and she learns that her husband did not perish in the accident. Mrs. Mallard dies on the spot and the doctor rules that she died of joy. However, with the knowledge of her previous joy, it’s clear that her death is from the disappointment of losing the full free life she had envisioned. 

Let’s look at an analysis of the plot, main themes, characters, setting, and other minor literary devices in “ The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin

The Story of an Hour Plot Analysis

“The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin has a linear or traditional plot structure with an introduction, rising action, climax, falling action, and a resolution at the end.

The very first line serves as an introduction or exposition to the plot. Chopin states that Mrs. Mallard “is afflicted with a heart trouble.” This point sets up the rest of the events to come in the story, while it also introduces Mrs. Mallard’s signature trait. Her heart condition also creates a meek perception of her and explains why the other characters have to take great care when telling her sensitive information.  The exposition continues with news of Mr. Mallard’s death. Knowing Mrs. Mallard’s frail heart, Josephine breaks the news with care and “veiled hints that revealed in half concealing”.

A rising action begins in the next part of the story regarding how Mrs. Mallard takes in the news of her husband’s death. It’s expected that a woman learning that her husband just died would take the news with disbelief, loud wailing, or any reaction contrary to Mrs. Mallard. Instead, Chopin explains that Mrs. Mallard “wept at once, with sudden, wild abandonment, in her sister’s arms.” She then goes into her room, supposedly to mourn her husband.

The story comes to a climax when Louise experiences a feeling that’s contrary to the sadness of losing a husband. She realizes and revels in her newfound freedom thinking, “There would be no one to live for during those coming years; she would live for herself. There would be no powerful will bending hers in that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature” 

“‘Free! Body and soul free!’ she kept whispering.”

After this, a falling action starts with Mrs.Mallard giving in to her sister’s incessant requests and opening her room’s door. Together, they descend the stairs, with Louise feeling victorious and triumphant over her new life. The story finally concludes with a resolution as Brently Mallard enters the room, revealing that he did not die in the railroad accident. Mrs. Mallard dies not because of the joy of her husband’s return, but because of the disappointment as her envisioned life of freedom flashes before her eyes.

Themes in The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin

Love and marriage as inherent issues is one of the themes this short story presents. The presence of love is not synonymous with a good marriage, as suggested throughout the plot.

Love and Marriage

Mr. and Mrs. Mallard love each other, and Chopin ensures we know this several times. While welcoming the freedom ahead of her, she still feels bad about her husband’s death because nevertheless, he was a kind man who loved her. “She knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind, tender hands folded in death; the face that had never looked save with love upon her, fixed and gray and dead” 

Louise also admits that she loves Brently, but not all the time. Most of the time she doesn’t. Despite this, she still perceives her husband’s death as a good thing and a gateway to freedom. It’s almost as if she has just been freed from an oppressive situation. 

Note that Mrs. Mallard does not state specifically any specific thing that happens during their marriage to change her feelings towards her husband. She instead rants on how marriage is will-bending, with men and women feeling the need to impose their will on others. In his analysis of the author’s works, Kate Chopin’s Life and Personal Influence , Jasdomin Tolentino affirms that Chopin grew up in an environment where women were always taught “to think independently, but also to be submissive to men.” This is reflected in the story as Mrs. Mallard rejoices in her newfound freedom and independence. 

Elaine Fortin in her 2014 essay Early Nineteenth Century Attitudes Toward Women and Their Roles as Represented By Literature Popular in Worcester, Massachusetts adds on this forced submission; “Submissive wives, who followed the, advice not to retort an abusive husband, received praise and were supposedly rewarded with a happy home and a faithful husband.” Chopin describes Mrs. Mallard with a “calm face, whose lines bespoke repression and even a certain strength.” Men, and the patriarchal society at large, repressed a woman’s need for individuality and independence, not even the strong could survive. 

Gender Roles and Gender Inequality

Like most feminist literature published around this time (1894), “The Story of an Hour” covers gender roles and gender inequality heavily as themes too.   

In the 19th and early 20th centuries, women got the brunt of gender inequality, as society perceived them as inferior to men. They were expected to always depend on their husbands or other male figures in the society like fathers or brothers, as Fortin describes in her literature review above. Domestic roles, including accommodating their husbands through cleaning and cooking, were among a woman’s primary responsibilities. And for those who managed to break these barriers, employment was characterized by lower wages with equal responsibilities, as well as gender discrimination at the workplace. Most women did not seek employment because they lived under their husband’s impositions, including the patriarchal perception that women should stay and tend to the home as men go out and become breadwinners. Fortin also adds that the women had little to no financial independence because everything either belonged to their husbands or fathers. 

In The Story of an Hour, Mrs. Mallard is an ideal representation of a woman in the 19 th century who is in search of lost identity and only feels she can achieve this in the absence of her husband. Of interest in the story is that it is only through a husband’s death that a woman during this time would grasp the taste of independence and freedom because then, she’s not living in the shadows of a man. Therefore, despite the sad news and her grief, Mrs. Mallard cannot help but feel happy because life is about to change for the best: she’s finally free. A majority of women did not have the slightest clue about independence and when Louise finally realizes that she is about to live life on her own terms, she’s in utter disbelief.

“She was beginning to recognize this thing that was approaching to possess her, and she was striving to beat it back with her will.”

It is also important to note that Chopin does not refer to Louise by her own name, but that of her husband, until later when we learn of her newfound freedom. In other words, Louise only finds her identity and independence after Brently dies because women in the 19 th century had to identify with a male figure.

From a feminist literature lens , The Story of an Hour falls under the first wave of feminism, when the movement heavily criticized the power of the patriarchal society and the effects it had on women, especially in marriage. An example is married women whose desires and identities were repressed to fit and serve men.

Character Analysis 

The story uses both direct and indirect characterization techniques to develop its four characters. Chopin uses a lot of direct characterization of Mrs.Mallard, while she leaves the audience to deduce the traits of the other three characters through indirect characterization. 

Mrs. Mallard is the primary character and protagonist . The story begins with details about her heart problem, casting her as fragile and setting the pace for the entire plot. “Knowing that Mrs. Mallard was afflicted with a heart trouble, great care was taken to break to her as gently as possible the news of her husband’s death.” Because of this, Josephine and Richards are careful when breaking the news of Brently’s death. It’s the same reason Josephine worries about Louise’s health when she locks herself in her room. 

“Louise, open the door! I beg; open the door–you will make yourself ill. What are you doing, Louise? For heaven’s sake open the door.”

The two worry that the news of her husband’s death would affect her while ironically, it’s the news of his survival that kills her.

Chopin further characterizes Mrs. Mallard as physically weak and mentally exhausted; traits that bolster the issue of repression painted in the story. 

 “…she was striving to beat it back with her will–as powerless as her two white slender hands would have been.”

It’s also evident in several instances that Mrs. Mallard feels exhausted with life, so much that, “It was only yesterday she had thought with a shudder that life might be long.” This exhaustion seems to stem from her marriage which has made her a repressed, dutiful, and submissive wife. 

 As she sits to process Brently’s death in her room, there’s “a physical exhaustion that haunted her body and seemed to reach into her soul.” Notice how this perception of her changes when she opens the door and descends the door to welcome and live her new free life. There’s “a feverish triumph in her eyes, and she carried herself unwittingly like a goddess of Victory.”

Although there’s no direct characterization of Brently, we can deduce a few things from Mrs.Mallard’s thoughts and actions. Given her perception of marriage, including hers, her husband  shares the same societal and patriarchal expectations of women during that period. She marvels, “There would be no one to live for during those coming years; … that blind persistence with which men and women believe they have a right to impose a private will upon a fellow-creature.”

And yet, Mrs. Mallard knows that her husband loved her. She “ knew that she would weep again when she saw the kind, tender hands folded in death; the face that had never looked save with love upon her.”

The Story of an Hour Setting Analysis

The entire story takes place in Mrs. Mallard’s storied house. Spring season is just starting as the trees come to life and “patches of blue sky showing here and there.” 

Spring comes after winter; the cold, lifeless, gloomy, and repressed season. Spring is like a rebirth with its warm weather, as trees grow new life and nature becomes vibrant again. This setting is parallel with what’s happening in Mrs. Mallard’s life. After years of repression in a marriage to someone she doesn’t love, she’s finally free. Life suddenly feels vast and she longs for the life ahead of her, a life she’ll spend living off her own will. 

The two rooms where the story’s 60-minutes events take place both represent Louise’s different experiences that all shape the plot. The living room is where she learns about Brently’s death and also where she dies after learning of her husband’s return/survival. It’s a place where cannot be herself and is always under her husband’s will. Even in the end, the doctors conclude that she dies from the happiness of seeing her husband alive, while the true reason is that she has gained and lost her free will in less than an hour.    

Mrs. Mallard’s room, on the other hand,  is a setting that allows her to be herself, feel her true emotions, and envision a life of freedom. 

Symbolism and Motifs in The Story of an Hour by Kate Chopin

Several objects in the story signify the freedom and rebirth Louise experiences, at least for a few minutes. Besides the setting discussed above, Chopin tactfully includes other instances of symbolism to signify Mrs. Mallard’s new life that promises “Spring days, and summer days, and all sorts of days that would be her own.”  

The open window with the view before her house has a view of things like trees filled with new spring life, patches of the blue sky amidst clouds, birds chirping, a distant note of someone singing, and so on. All these are signs of something coming to life. She’s embracing and welcoming her new life without Brently, “drinking in a very elixir of life through that open window.” These images and symbols of springtime also double as motifs that reinforce the new great life Mrs.Mallard envisions. 

Do you have any literary analysis questions for your essay writing or just loved reading ‘ The Story of an Hour’ by Kate Chopin and wanna start a conversation? Let me know in the comment section below! 🙂

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5 thoughts on ““The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin Literary Analysis: Plot, Themes, Characters, Setting, and Symbolism”

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Women and Freedom in “The Story of an Hour” by Kate Chopin Essay

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

“The story of an hour” is a literary fiction written by Kate Chopin. Kate Chopin (1850-1904) was well known American writer of short stories. She is best known for her recurrent theme on the status of women in societal affairs, the challenges and problems facing them as well as repression and gender bias.

“The story of an hour” is rhetorically hour’s recount of the marriage life of Mrs. Louise Mallard. The text describes the final hour of her life spent dreaming about how she would become totally free from marital repression she has been experiencing under her domineering husband Mr. Brently Mallard. Mallard’s only way to acquire this freedom is through the misleading message told her that her oppressor (husband) is dead.

She will now live freely and fulfill her feminine ambitions joyfully through the remaining part of her life. However, this ends up becoming tragic to her in a sudden anti climax when she unfortunately looses her own life instead of celebrating the freedom that comes with widowhood because her husband was still alive after all.

The story is an example of literary fiction, since it economical in structure with few characters. Characters are few in this text with the main character being Mrs. Louise Mallard who is a very attractive young woman and grieves the apparent death of her husband but inwardly celebrates the freedom that she will enjoy in the days to come after his departure; and her husband Mr. Brently Mallard who is portrayed as being overbearing and repressive to his wife; other characters include Josephine who is a friend to Mrs. Mallard, Richards a friend to Mr. Mallard and the Doctors who give a wrong diagnosis of the death of Mrs. Mallard later in the end. Josephine and Richards are the ones who help break the news that Mr. Mallard is dead.

Chopin adopts a summative approach in that events unfold in one place (the Mallard’s house); everything happens within a span of less than one day at a specific location with absolutely no sub plots to develop the story further.

The author adopts a nineteenth century setting in America and recounts the events in the Mallards household within a span of one hour. Thematically, the story explores the status of a typical American woman in the nineteenth century where aspects such as female repression and male dominance were rife.

Within the nineteenth century setting in America, society was biased against women and the girl child. The place of a typical woman was expected to be the kitchen where she was entitled to take care of the entire household, bear children for the man and take care of them to maturity.

During this period, women had no rights to vote and participate in the nation’s democratic processes, employment opportunities were skewed against them to an extent that it was not easy for them to access paid jobs and even if they managed to get such jobs, they could only be hired for a pittance to earn much less than their male counterparts for similar work. Hence, Mr. Mallard being a typical husband in the 19 th century clearly dominates his wife.

In conclusion it is evident that in the 19 th century women never had freedom; they were never granted an opportunity to accomplish what they wanted because societal values were skewed and sexist. Domestic roles are what they were identified with and what consumed their entire life on earth. Freedom was never forthcoming as is revealed in the ironic fate of Mrs. Mallard who looses her own life trying to secure a better one. This was the fate of the female gender during this time.

• Mrs. Mallard’s Feelings About Her Husband
• Imagery and Symbolism in "Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin
• The Novel "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin
• Flight into Canada by Ishmael Reed
• Depression due to Repression in The Yellow Wallpaper
• Time as a Theme in The Great Gatsby
• Daisy Buchanan: “I Did Love Him Once, but I Loved You, Too”
• An Occurrence at Owl Creek
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2019, February 7). Women and Freedom in "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-story-of-an-hour/

"Women and Freedom in "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin." IvyPanda , 7 Feb. 2019, ivypanda.com/essays/the-story-of-an-hour/.

IvyPanda . (2019) 'Women and Freedom in "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin'. 7 February.

IvyPanda . 2019. "Women and Freedom in "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin." February 7, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-story-of-an-hour/.

1. IvyPanda . "Women and Freedom in "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin." February 7, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-story-of-an-hour/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "Women and Freedom in "The Story of an Hour" by Kate Chopin." February 7, 2019. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-story-of-an-hour/.

General election latest: Tory tactic on Starmer age may backfire, poll suggests; Farage changes tune on Tory deal

Sir Keir Starmer has faced accusations of a left-wing cull in the Labour Party, including from predecessor Jeremy Corbyn. In better news for the party leader, another Tory - Mark Logan - has defected. Submit your election questions in the form below.

Thursday 30 May 2024 19:57, UK

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• 'How can we trust you?' Voter challenges PM
• Tory defects to Labour | 'The right thing for country'
• Corbyn accuses Starmer of 'clearly intervening' in 'purge'
• No reason Abbott shouldn't be able to stand, says Rayner
• Tory tactic on Starmer age may backfire, poll suggests
• Farage changes tune on Tory deal
• Live reporting by Tim Baker

Expert analysis

• Jon Craig: Latest Tory defector not an obvious fit for Labour
• Gurpreet Narwan: Reform unfussed by impact of 'immigration tax'
• Darren McCaffrey: Partygate clearly still an issue for Tories
• Beth Rigby: Massive distraction gives Starmer questions to answer

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• Read more: What happens next? | Who is standing down? | Key seats to watch | How to register to vote | What counts as voter ID? | Check if your constituency's changing | Your essential guide to election lingo | Sky's election night plans

There was another classic of the Lib Dem election stunt genre today, and this time Sky joined in.

Our correspondent Matthew Thompson jumped on a waterslide with party leader Sir Ed Davey - and you can watch the fun they had below...

The stunt was done to raise awareness of a Lib Dem policy to introduce a mental health professional into school.

That concludes our coverage of tonight's Politics Hub With Ali Fortescue - it'll be back tomorrow, but stick around for more news and analysis through the evening.

If this is the first TikTok election, you might be surprised at who's winning.

On the youngest, buzziest social media platform, Reform UK - whose vote tends somewhat towards the elderly - has the most followers, 125,500, just ahead of Labour on 108,500.

But others are catching up fast - and how they're using it reveals a lot about a key digital battleground in this election, one of the few arenas where money doesn't buy you influence.

Because this is new territory. "It's worth noting that the three major parties are really new to the game," says Kate Dommett, professor of digital politics at the University of Sheffield.

No major party had much of a TikTok presence before the election was called. Now they're racing to build them on the fly.

Read more from our online campaign correspondent Tom Cheshire :

Our panel is asked by Ali whether it's becoming difficult to distinguish between the two parties.

Former government adviser  Mercy Muroki says she thinks so. 

"We've heard a lot of talk already about how Labour are kind of trying very hard to move… to the centre at least and to purge the left," she says.

"And I think the policy platform they have on tax and other issues is more or less practically indistinguishable from what the Conservatives have been trying to do," she adds. 

Regardless, she says, "all parties come in promising various things on tax, and they always end up breaking it - always end up raising tax when they said they wouldn't".

Ali Fortescue   turns to our panel, former government adviser Mercy Muroki and ex-Labour staffer Greg Cook .

Asked about Mark Logan's defection, Ms Muroki says it is a "very odd" example of someone changing parties.

She points out that Mr Logan was elected in 2019 as a Boris-backing Brexiteer who is now saying Sir Keir Starmer is the future of the country.

Ms Muroki adds that Mr Logan doesn't really criticise Rishi Sunak in his letter, and admitted the Tories could hold his seat.

She says there is no clear reason for him leaving the Tory party, unlike in other defections.

Tories 'will be absolutely terrified'

Mr Cook says it may be that Labour had a hand in the defection, and it could be a useful distraction from the bad Labour headlines at the moment.

The former Labour employee says that Mr Logan seems like a "genuine, honest guy" who clearly thought his decision through.

Mr Cook says that, when Tories defected in 1997, it was over Europe and showed other Conservatives they could back Labour.

Now, there is no single clear reason that defectors have given.

"I imagine the Tories will be absolutely terrified there are more of these in the pipeline," Mr Cook says.

On the subject of Diane Abbott, Ms Muroki says it is "clearly not a good look" for the Labour Party.

But she criticises some of the narrative around the case.

She says: "I just do find it this narrative that, you know, she's a black woman, and somehow she should receive special treatment for that. 

"It's kind of undermining the reason that she was sort of being investigated in the first place."

Ms Abbott was suspended from the parliamentary Labour Party after writing in The Observer that "Irish, Jewish, and Traveller" people suffer "prejudice" - and likened it to discrimination experienced by "redheads".

"But they are not all their lives subject to racism," she added.

Another MP defecting to Labour will no doubt come as a blow to Rishi Sunak, but there are divisions in Labour too, our political editor Beth Rigby says. 

"Mark Logan has defected… it comes on the back of Natalie Elphicke [leaving, who was] more high-profile, actually," she says.

"She defected to Labour about small boats and you then had Dan Poulter, a former minister and a doctor, saying he was defecting to Labour over the NHS.

"It will, of course, be a blow to the prime minister."

In response, Beth says, the Tories have thrown themselves fully into campaigning. 

"Rishi Sunak is actually trying to shore up, for now, the right of the party, with those offers on national service, on the triple lock and more tax benefits for pensioners."

Moving to Labour, she says the Diane Abbott row may actually be a bigger story than we think. 

"The way that they are responding is making it a bigger, bigger, bigger problem, instead of nipping it in the bud," she says.

"It speaks to divisions in the party."

Sky political correspondent Serena Barker-Singh has been speaking to Jeremy Corbyn, the former Labour leader who is now an independent.

Mr Corbyn was asked about the candidates seen to be on the left of the party - like Diane Abbott, Lloyd Russell-Moyle, and Faiza Shaheen - not being allowed to stand.

He tells Serena: "The one thing they all have in common, the people that have been purged, is that they're on the left of the party and have all spoken out in favour of an immediate ceasefire and permanent ceasefire in Gaza."

When it was put to him that Labour claims some of the action was down to liking social media posts, Mr Corbyn says: "We don't even know which tweet it was or whose tweet it was.

"That seems to me a bit thin - and the Labour Party's procedures ought to be more robust and more open than that."

Serena asks if Mr Corbyn thinks Sir Keir Starmer is behind the decisions.

The ex-Labour chief says: "Well, as much as he claims sometimes it's nothing to do with him and other times that he's made the decision, he better make up his mind what it is. 

"I think the leader ought to be independent of the other processes. But he clearly is intervening all along the way."

Sir Keir has denied he was blocking leftwing candidates.

He says that he wants the "highest quality candidates" - and that "no decision" has been taken on Ms Abbott's case.

He then paid tribute to her and the "incredible challenges" she overcame as an MP.

Mr Corbyn is standing for re-election in Islington North.

The full list of candidates for the seat is as follows:

• Jeremy Corbyn, independent;
• Vikas Aggarwal, Liberal Democrat;
• Sheridan Kates, Green Party;
• Praful Nargund, Labour;
• Martyn Nelson, Reform UK.

If you need more insight into Mark Logan's defection, read this from our chief political correspondent Jon Craig ...

In a Sky News interview after Tory MP Christian Wakeford defected to Labour in 2022, Mark Logan was asked if he planned to join him.

At the time, the Northern Ireland-born MP laughed and replied jokingly: "I'm not planning to defect - to the Democratic Unionist Party."

Yet two years later, Mr Logan has indeed - like Mr Wakeford, Dan Poulter and Natalie Elphicke in the parliament that has just ended - abandoned the Conservative Party and switched to Labour.

Mr Logan said he had done "much soul-searching throughout my first term in parliament".

Not many MPs admit to that sort of self-doubt. But then Mr Logan has never been tribal like the more bombastic and shouty members of the Tories' 2019 intake. You know who you are!

Nor is he a divisive figure like the most recent previous Tory defector to Labour, Natalie Elphicke, whose welcome from the party leadership appalled some Labour MPs and activists.

And though he won his seat from Labour's Sir David Crausby, who represented Bolton North East from 1997 until 2019, it's not a Red Wall seat.

Read the full article below:

Ali Fortescue   suggests Mark Logan's defection is further evidence of Labour shifting to the right of politics.

Mr Logan thinks it's a case of the party having "decided it wants to govern" and wanting to incorporate a "broad church".

Sir Keir Starmer has been accused of a "purge" of left-wing candidates, with predecessor Jeremy Corbyn among his critics.

Some voters are also disappointed with his stance on Brexit, having dismissed any chance of the UK rejoining the EU.

Mr Logan, a Brexiteer, says "we deal with the environment we have".

"I think Labour, if it does come to power, is going to be in the situation where it does have a lot of expertise and interest in furthering the UK's relations with European partners," he says.

"And that's important when we're in a world where things are darker than they have been in recent decades."

In his defection letter released earlier, former Tory MP Mark Logan cited Labour's stance on the war in Gaza as a reason for switching.

Many of his constituents feel strongly about it, he says.

He thinks a Labour government would have "the right intention" to help end the conflict, saying there are many people in the party "that have an interest" and even a "specialism" when it comes to the Middle East.

The party has been calling for an immediate ceasefire, though the leadership has been criticised for how long it took to change its stance.

'An opportunity to show leadership'

"I do think Labour are going to do things a bit differently," says Mr Logan.

"It's actually an opportunity to show leadership. The UK can show leadership with other like-minded countries.

"There's a real opportunity if we can show leadership and move to having reconstruction that benefits the people of Gaza and also making sure that Israel is secure and safe."

Mark Logan , who has tonight defected from the Tories to Labour, is speaking first to Ali Fortescue .

He says he thinks his move is "the right thing for both my constituency in Bolton North East, but also the country".

Mr Logan refers to the "sense of optimism" before Tony Blair came to power back in 1997 and thinks the country has again reached a "pivotal turning point" head of the 4 July election.

He tells Ali he's been thinking about defecting "for quite a long time", finally coming to the decision after a week of "soul-searching".

'It's time for change'

Mr Logan thought his values "fit better" with Labour.

He acknowledges Ali's point that it's "quite a turnaround", given he's previously praised Rishi Sunak and backed him to be PM.

Mr Sunak can still "leave office with his held high" if he loses the election, says the defector.

"I do think he's a person of integrity. I think he is hard-working, but it's just time for a change."

But he won't now be standing at the election in his constituency or looking for another potential Labour seat.

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